About us
If you’re a songwriter aiming to elevate your songs and achieve success, this is the place to grow your craft.
Join Jacques M. Gentil, award-winning songwriter (ASA/APRA Australian Songwriter of the Year 2013) and ASCAP-affiliated mentor, for practical, inspiring workshops designed to help you write songs that stand out in today’s market.
TYPES OF MEETINGS
1. In-Person Songwriting Workshops
Held on select weekends, these workshops bring together beginner, developing, and established songwriters in a supportive setting. You’ll receive expert feedback on your songs in progress, guidance on how to reach commercial quality, and connect with like-minded peers.
A small fee may apply.
2. Free Monthly Zoom Workshops
Join our free online workshops once a month (weekends). Each session includes a short topic presentation and a live masterclass where Jacques provides in-depth feedback on songs in progress. Attendees can also contribute constructive feedback, making this a valuable and collaborative learning experience.
Spots fill quickly—early registration is recommended.
HOW IT WORKS
Online Sessions:
• Duration: approx. 1.5 hours
• Play your song live (guitar, piano, keyboard, other instruments) or submit an mp3 in advance to be played during the session.
• Lyrics should also be submitted in advance or shared live on a virtual whiteboard.
In-Person Sessions:
• Duration: approx. 3 hours (max.)
• Hosted at songwriter homes or venues. These workshops have been running since 2003, with many success stories from attendees.
ABOUT MAGESONGS SCHOOL OF SONGWRITING
This Meetup is part of Magesongs School of Songwriting. In addition to these workshops, occasional songwriting classes are offered to help songwriters reach industry-ready standards. As a Meetup member, you may be invited to participate when new classes become available.
Jacques M. Gentil (Organizer)
Award-Winning Songwriter & Mentor
ASA/APRA Australian Songwriter of the Year 2013
Upcoming events
2
25 November: PRODUCTION FOR SONGWRITERS Workshop
·OnlineOnline🎵 PRODUCTION FOR SONGWRITERS 🎵
Magesongs Songwriting Series — November 2026
Your song is written. The melody works. The lyrics tell the story. But how do you turn that song into a recording that truly connects with listeners?A good song deserves good production. Yet many songwriters find themselves unsure about what happens between writing a song and hearing the finished recording.
Should you use a full band or keep the arrangement simple? Which instruments will best support the melody? How important are the vocals? What exactly do mixing and mastering do? And how much of this does a songwriter really need to understand?
In this free, live and interactive workshop, award-winning songwriter and songwriting mentor Jacques Gentil explores the creative decisions behind music production, and how those decisions can strengthen—or sometimes weaken—a song.
You don't need an expensive studio, technical expertise or professional recording equipment to benefit from this session. Our focus is on understanding production from the songwriter's perspective, rather than learning how to operate complicated recording software.
What we'll explore
🎵 The role of production in songwriting — Why a great song and a great recording are not necessarily the same thing.
🎵 Choosing the right sound and style — Finding arrangements, instruments, rhythms and tempos that suit the song rather than following trends.
🎵 Working with vocals and musicians — Understanding how performances, harmonies and musical choices influence the listener's experience.
🎵 Recording, mixing and mastering — What these stages involve and what songwriters should listen for.
🎵 Working with producers — How to communicate your vision and make informed creative decisions.
🎵 Common production mistakes — Recognising when too much—or too little—production gets in the way of the song.
🎵 Getting your music ready for release — Understanding the difference between a songwriting demo and a finished master recording.We'll also look at how today's home-recording technology and AI-assisted music tools are changing the possibilities for independent songwriters, while keeping the song itself at the centre of the creative process.
Who should attend?
Whether you're just beginning your songwriting journey, recording demos at home, collaborating with musicians, or preparing songs for commercial release, this workshop will help you make better-informed production decisions.
Remember: Production should serve the song, not the other way around.Workshop details
📅 Wednesday 25 November 2026
🕢 7:30 PM – 8:45 PM AEDT (Melbourne/Sydney time) Note daylight saving time.
💻 Online via Zoom — Live and Interactive
🎟️ FREE to attendAbout your presenter
Jacques Gentil is an award-winning Australian songwriter, music publisher and founder of Magesongs School of Songwriting.
His achievements include being named the ASA/APRA Australian Songwriter of the Year 2013 and winning the 2026 Commonwealth Song Contest with his composition Should Words Fail, representing Australia.Through Magesongs, Jacques has mentored aspiring and established songwriters for over two decades, sharing practical knowledge gained through songwriting, recording, music publishing and working with other musicians.
Note: Zoom link will only show after you have joined the main Meetup. This group here will be upgraded to a New Zealand meetup soon. Please join the main group via this link below and get access to our free upcoming Meetup.
https://www.meetup.com/magesongs-songwriting-workshops/events/317100463Join us!
Bring your questions, your experiences and your curiosity.
Discover how thoughtful production can help your songs reach their full potential.
This is another inspiring session in the Magesongs Songwriting Series.MAGESONGS SCHOOL OF SONGWRITING
Write Better Songs1 attendee
16 December: WRITING FOR THE HOLIDAY MARKET
·OnlineOnline🎄 WRITING FOR THE HOLIDAY MARKET 🎄
Magesongs Songwriting Series — December 2026
What makes a Christmas song so memorable that people want to hear it year after year?Every holiday season, familiar songs return to our radios, playlists, shopping centres and family celebrations. Some were written decades ago, yet they continue to connect with new generations of listeners.
But what makes these songs last? Is it the melody, the lyrics, the memories they bring back, or something deeper?And with so many Christmas songs already written, is there still room for something new?
Join award-winning songwriter and songwriting mentor Jacques Gentil for a free, live and interactive workshop exploring the creative opportunities and challenges of writing songs for Christmas and the wider holiday market.
Whether you're interested in writing traditional Christmas songs, contemporary festive pop, spiritual and inspirational music, or songs about family, love, hope and togetherness, this workshop will help you discover fresh ways to approach a familiar season.
What we'll explore
🎄 What makes a great holiday song? — Understanding why some songs become seasonal favourites while others are quickly forgotten.
🎵 Finding fresh ideas in familiar themes — Writing about Christmas, love, family, giving, hope and celebration without repeating the same old expressions.
🎄 Traditional versus contemporary Christmas songs — Understanding the differences between religious, secular, nostalgic and modern holiday music.
🎵 Writing memorable melodies and choruses — How to create the warmth, excitement, reflection or celebration that listeners associate with the season.
🎄 Lyrics that capture the holiday spirit — What type of imagery, storytelling and emotion that would make your songs feel personal and meaningful, and how not to repeat clichéd imageries.
🎵 Writing for different audiences — Exploring songs for children, families, churches, performers and commercial audiences.
🎄 The business of holiday songwriting — Understanding seasonal release timing, opportunities and why Christmas music has a relatively short promotional window each year.
🎵 Learning from successful holiday songs — Exploring familiar Christmas classics alongside contemporary approaches to seasonal songwriting.Can you still write an original Christmas song?
Absolutely!
Christmas songwriting doesn't have to be limited to sleigh bells, snowflakes, Santa Claus and decorated trees. It's been done.
Some of the most meaningful seasonal songs explore the human experiences behind the celebrations: remembering loved ones, coming home, finding hope, sharing kindness, celebrating faith or simply being together.
And for songwriters in Australia and other Southern Hemisphere countries, Christmas arrives in summer, opening up different settings and storytelling possibilities. How to approach them in the hope of still making a great Christmas classic?
The challenge isn't finding something that hasn't been written about before. It's finding a fresh and meaningful way to say it. We'll explore how to do that.Who should attend?
This workshop is for aspiring and experienced songwriters, lyricists, composers and anyone interested in exploring the creative possibilities of Christmas and holiday music.
You don't need to have written a Christmas song before. Just bring your curiosity, your ideas and your love of songwriting.Workshop details
📅 Wednesday 16 December 2026
🕢 7:30 PM – 8:45 PM AEDT (Melbourne/Sydney time Daylight Saving)
💻 Online via Zoom — Live and Interactive
🎟️ FREE to attendNote that to get the Zoom link you need to RSVP at the main Meetup group here. This group will be transformed into another Meetup for New Zealand soon. If you wish to continue receiving workshop updates, please RSVP at this link below:
https://www.meetup.com/magesongs-songwriting-workshops/events/317100609About your presenter
Jacques Gentil is an award-winning Australian songwriter, music publisher and founder of Magesongs School of Songwriting.His achievements include being named the ASA/APRA Australian Songwriter of the Year 2013 and winning the 2026 Commonwealth Song Contest with his composition Should Words Fail, representing Australia.
Through Magesongs, Jacques has mentored aspiring and established songwriters for over two decades, sharing practical knowledge gained through songwriting, recording, music publishing and working with other musicians.
Join us for our final workshop of 2026!
Whether you dream of writing the next Christmas classic or simply want to create a meaningful song for the people you love, this workshop offers inspiration, practical advice and fresh ideas to take into your songwriting.
Let's finish the year by celebrating the music that brings people together.MAGESONGS SCHOOL OF SONGWRITING
Write Better Songs1 attendee
Past events
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